"Here," said the Brother, " are no ladies seen — "That is a widow dwelling on the Green; "A dainty dame, who can but barely live "On her poor pittance, yet contrives to give; "She happier days has known, but seems at ease, "And you may call her Lady, if you please: "But if you wish, good sister, to improve, "You shall see twenty better worth your love."

These Nancy met; but, spite of all they taught, This useless Widow was the one she sought: The father growl'd; but said he knew no harm In such connexion that could give alarm; "And if we thwart the trifler in her course, "'Tis odds against us she will take a worse."

Then met the friends; the Widow heard the sigh That ask'd at once compassion and reply: "Would you, my child, converse with one so poor,

-yonder

is

my

"And, save the time that we in public pray, "From that poor cottage I but rarely stray.

door:

There went the Nymph, and made her strong comPainting her wo as injured feeling paints. [plaints,

“Oh, dearest friend! do think how one must feel, meal; "Shock'd all day long, and sicken'd every "Could you behold our kitchen (and to you "A scene so shocking must indeed be new), "A mind like yours, with true refinement graced, "Would let no vulgar scenes pollute your taste:

"And yet, in truth, from such a polish'd mind
"All base ideas must resistance find,

"And sordid pictures from the fancy pass,
"As the breath startles from the polish'd glass.

"Here you enjoy a sweet romantic scene, "Without so pleasant, and within so clean; "These twining jess'mines, what delicious gloom "And soothing fragrance yield they to the room! "What lovely garden! there you oft retire, "And tales of wo and tenderness admire: "In that neat case your books, in order placed, "Soothe the full soul, and charm the cultured taste; "And thus, while all about you wears a charm, "How must you scorn the Farmer and the Farm!"

The Widow smiled, and "Know you not," said she "How much these farmers scorn or pity me; "Who see what you admire, and laugh at all they see? "True, their opinion alters not my fate, "By falsely judging of an humble state: "This garden you with such delight behold, "Tempts not a feeble dame who dreads the cold; "These plants, which please so well your livelier

sense,

"To mine but little of their sweets dispense:
"Books soon are painful to my failing sight,
"And oftener read from duty than delight;
"(Yet let me own, that I can sometimes find
"Both joy and duty in the act combined;)
"But view me rightly, you will see no more
"Than a poor female, willing to be poor;

66

Happy indeed, but not in books nor flowers, "Not in fair dreams, indulged in earlier hours, "Of never-tasted joys; such visions shun,

66

My youthful friend, nor scorn the Farmer's Son."

Nay," said the Damsel, nothing pleased to see A Friend's advice could like a Father's be, "Bless'd in your cottage, you must surely smile "At those who live in our detested style: "To my Lucinda's sympathising heart

"Could I my prospects and my griefs impart, "She would console me; but I dare not show "Ills that would wound her tender soul to know: "And I confess, it shocks my pride to tell "The secrets of the prison where I dwell; "For that dear maiden would be shock'd to feel "The secrets I should shudder to reveal; "When told her friend was by a parent ask'd, "Fed you the swine?'-Good heaven! how I am

task'd!

[grief "What! can you smile? Ah! smile not at the "That woos your pity and demands relief."

"Trifles, my love: you take a false alarm; "Think, I beseech you, better of the Farm: "Duties in every state demand your care, "And light are those that will require it there: "Fix on the Youth a favouring eye, and these, "To him pertaining, or as his, will please.”

"What words," the Lass replied, "offend my ear! "Try you my patience? Can you be sincere?

"And am I told a willing hand to give
"To a rude farmer, and with rustics live?

"Far other fate was yours;

some gentle youth "Admired your beauty, and avow'd his truth; "The power of love prevail'd, and freely both "Gave the fond heart, and pledged the binding

oath;

“And then the rival's plot, the parent's power,
"And jealous fears, drew on the happy hour:
"Ah! let not memory lose the blissful view,
"But fairly show what Love has done for you."

"Agreed, my daughter; what my heart has known "Of Love's strange power, shall be with frankness shown:

"But let me warn you, that experience finds "Few of the scenes that lively hope designs."

"Mysterious all," said Nancy; "you, I know, "Have suffer'd much; now deign the grief to show;— "I am your friend, and so prepare my heart "In all your sorrows to receive a part.”

The Widow answer'd: "I had once, like you, "Such thoughts of love; no dream is more untrue; "You judge it fated, and decreed to dwell "In youthful hearts, which nothing can expel, "A passion doom'd to reign, and irresistible. "The struggling mind, when once subdued, in vain

"Rejects the fury or defies the pain;

"The strongest reason fails the flame t' allay, "And resolution droops and faints away:

"Hence, when the destined lovers meet, they prove "At once the force of this all-powerful love; "Each from that period feels the mutual smart, "Nor seeks to cure it-heart is changed for heart; "Nor is there peace till they delighted stand, "And, at the altar-hand is join'd to hand.

"Alas! my child, there are who, dreaming so, "Waste their fresh youth, and waking feel the wo; "There is no spirit sent the heart to move "With such prevailing and alarming love; "Passion to reason will submit—or why "Should wealthy maids the poorest swains deny? "Or how could classes and degrees create "The slightest bar to such resistless fate? "Yet high and low, you see, forbear to mix; "No beggars' eyes the heart of kings transfix; "And who but am'rous peers or nobles sigh, "When titled beauties pass triumphant by ? "For reason wakes, proud wishes to reprove; "You cannot hope, and therefore dare not love: "All would be safe, did we at first inquire"Does reason sanction what our hearts desire?' "But quitting precept, let example show "What joys from Love uncheck'd by prudence flow.

"A Youth, my father in his office placed, "Of humble fortune, but with sense and taste; "But he was thin and pale, had downcast looks; "He studied much, and pored upon his books: "Confused he was when seen, and, when he saw "Me or my sisters, would in haste withdraw;